how to adjust 'ToolSettings.proportional_edit_falloff' in the user interface?
Apple mouse does not have scroll wheel. virtual scrolling defaults to rotate and does not allow focus adjustment. Using 3 button mouse with wheel works fine and solves this problem.
Perhaps a developer knows a work around for the apple mouse.
Thanks to Markus von Broady for the tip.
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Reattached apple mouse, now the circle appears after the 'G' command. Scrolling the mouse wheel down to bring the focus into range (on screen)
was the correct action it appears. Sigh.